CSTO to withdraw peacekeepers following Kazakhstan’s request

The decision to withdraw the CSTO peacekeeping force from Kazakhstan will be made after the official request of the country's leadership, press secretary of the CSTO Vladimir Zainetdinov told BelTA.

"The CSTO Secretariat is aware of the statement of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev," Vladimir Zainetdinov said. “The CSTO has not yet received an appropriate request from Kazakhstan. As soon as it does, the CSTO Secretariat will promptly draw up all necessary decisions of the Collective Security Council. In pursuance of the decision of the Collective Security Council, the CSTO Defense Ministers Council will determine the procedure for the withdrawal of the CSTO collective peacekeeping force from Kazakhstan."

 The results of the CSTO peacekeeping mission will be summed up at a special meeting of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council, Vladimir Zainetdinov added.